Panasonic GH5 Firmware 2.0: Official HLG and Anamorphic HDR Videos

As it was recently announced, Firmware 2.0 for the Panasonic GH5 is supposed to be quite a big deal. Some of the highlights of the new firmware update are the addition of a new 400Mbps 10bit 4:2:2 All-Intra codec option in 4K, a new “full height” Anamorphic mode, Hybrid Log Gamma for HDR delivery, as well as improved AF in video mode plus a lot more. Firmware 2.0 is set to be officially released by the end of September.

In the run-up to the firmware release, Panasonic released a few official videos demonstrating some of the big features such as HLG or Hybrid Log Gamma and of course high res Anamorphic.

Heirloom was captured in High resolution Anamorphic, using 10 bit video and V-LOG L to capture all of the colour and dynamic range that the GH5 has to offer. In order to see all of the Dynamic range and color of Heirloom, it was decided to upload this file as an HDR10 HDR release.

The guys at CRFTSHO, who shot the Anamorphic promo above, were also lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with Panasonic’s Matt Frazer, who talked about the new features in Firmware 2.0 at length for about thirty minutes. It is a very informative interview, Matt knows his stuff, so I highly recommend you check it out below.

Summary of Firmware 2.0 for Panasonic GH5

4K HDR video recording – HLG / Hybrid Log Gamma

10bit 422 ALL-I in 4K at 400 Mbps

10bit 422 ALL-I available for Full HD as well

Improved AF in video recording

6K and 400mbps 4K anamorphic shooting

Improved in-body stabilisation

Tethered shooting via Lumix Tether software

Improved handling for 4K Photo and 6K Photo

New wireless features

Improved AF in low contrast scenes

To get a better idea of the HLG profile the Panasonic GH5 will get in Firmware 2.0, check out the HLG video below shot by Nick Driftwood.

Even when it was released to the masses, the Panasonic GH5 offered plenty of features not available in rival products. The inclusion of 10bit recording modes (even in LongGOP) was a huge deal, and now with the imminent inclusion of a robust 400 Mbps 10bit 422 Intra codec on board, plus a unique Anamorphic mode that even some cinema cameras costing 20x + times don’t have put the little GH5 in somewhat of a league of its own.